Album Review: Escarnium - Inexorable Entropy
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Escarnium are a band I’ve realised, upon viewing their back catalogue, have been vaguely on my radar for some time. Formed in 2008 out of Salvador, Brazil, the band have been consistently active now for nearly two decades where their early years were populated with Demos, Eps, Splits, and their first studio album, Excruciating Existence, back in 2012. Every few years thus the band volley us with another album, 2016’s Inheritus which was followed by 2022’s Dysthymia though that year also gave us their Through The Depths Of The 12th Gate EP. It’s been three years since and Escarnium are back with their fourth full length record: Inexorable Entropy. Slated for a May 9th release date and their first to be distributed via Everlasting Spew Records, this is my first real chance to check out Escarnium in earnest. Let’s see what these Brazilians have crafted.
Inexorable Entropy barely scrapes the half hour mark but that doesn’t stop Escarnium from introducing their newest record with a brooding piece that eases us in before unleashing their full barrage. When their cylinders do start firing though its immediate, with little to distract us from the band’s performance; there’s a particular atmospheric quality milling across their work but its never thrown into your face. When it is brought to the fray it feels to have been positioned towards the back of the soundscape so should we wish to listen more keenly the band thusly reward greater attention. The band’s death metal attack may not initially fall out of place from the next hundred acts however its their approach to songwriting that certainly elevates them above the rank and file, for they know when to hold back the onslaught to enable the more brooding element to reach the spotlight. Even though the band don’t give us vast swathes of time to sink into their record, Escarnium have still made sure tracks offer diverse , meandering pathways by which we discover things perhaps unexpected.
We’ve covered how Escarnium’s death metal attack is pretty par for the course for extreme metal in 2025, but this is merely a surface level observation; throwing the curtains over what’s occurring in the background is everything to understanding Escarnium’s quality. Their drums may initially suggest Inexorable Entropy to be a sheer blast beat marathon, and one wouldn’t doubt that given their propensity for stamina and nuclear energy, yet their drums break away from blast beats on numerous occasions and in ways that allow the kit to be utilised to the maximum. Tracks are bristling with drum fills, bass drums heavily included, but you can actively feel the efforts their drummer is going to in order for these drums to command our attention. This record isn’t the most avant-garde and thus many will have an idea of what to expect however its great to acknowledge that the drums simply aren’t going to give you a free pass. You will pay attention and you will like it, they seemingly say, especially given the momentum they provide for the rest of the band’s performance.
Its worth noting how Escarnium’s songwriting bears a degree of technicality, particularly where the riffs are concerned. Inexorable Entropy might be the kind of record where you know what you’re getting into but then the band throw you one left-field lick, a start-and-stop style of riff beating, a sequence where the adrenaline seeps away entirely to make way for the drumming etc. As mentioned, on surface level Escarnium are akin to any other extreme metal in 2025 but looking deeper is how you’ll recognise the deluxe promise their songwriting possesses. This is all the more impressive when we remember the record’s length and the nine tracks within; doing so with restrictive time is no small accomplishment, especially when we recognise the drive these guys harbour too for there is hardly a moment on record where they actively dictate they’ll be slowing down a touch. The band are playing with full gusto at every instance and still find methods of throwing us off. Its not long before prediction of what’s coming is no longer an option and you’re entirely thrown under their sway.
Their production here is excellent but it goes beyond simply modern technology. Escarnium walk this tightrope between a cinderblock impact where the guitar work is steeped in density and every strike is akin to crashing moons together and this more cosmic, introspective style that certainly takes the pedal of the floor enough to give us that needed breather. The band may be going at full force but that’s hardly the sole force selling the record to us. Its this serenely malignant death metal that complements their technical songwriting the most since it brings the band out from our faces and effectively forces them into a position by which we can better view their performance with greater clarity. When something is close up, our eyes often struggle focusing, but when it’s brought back just enough it does make all the difference. The same idea applies herein for there’s often a more wispy kind of lick or rhythm section underlaying the primary strike. The production thus gives this record great character by letting two otherwise juxtaposing aesthetics clash, and merge, without offsetting the experience conveyed to us.
In conclusion, Escarnium’s Inexorable Entropy doesn’t stick around long. Hardly over thirty-one minutes in length it provides little fanfare upon it last track however I suppose that leaves the door wide open for another listen. You’ll head into this record convinced its one thing yet it won’t take long for the band to open your eyes as to what they’re really capable of. That brutality which South American extreme metal is renowned for is just as visible here though its mirrored by an prominent, and formidable, celestial edge to its songwriting too. What’s more is Escarnium don’t outright reserve specific sections for these moments; its all blended together to offer a more organic listening experience and thus treat the audience with greater respect. The band know we’ll be able to pick up what they’re doing, because I definitely did as their songwriting continuously wove itself into unique forms, and into patterns I’d never have considered early on. Escarnium have been a band on the fringes of myself however I may just have to watch out for future releases given Inexorable Entropy’s inherent entertainment. Another great release for South American extreme metal.
